Migration, mobility and climate change

Vulnerable populations, particularly in developing nations, face disproportionate risks. Small island states confront existential threats from rising seas, while agricultural communities in drought-prone regions experience increasing pressure on traditional livelihoods.  

Mobility patterns influenced by climate change take various forms. Internal migration, particularly rural-to-urban movement, represents the most common response. Cross-border migration poses complex social and political challenges. 

The relationship between climate and migration is not deterministic — social, economic, and political factors significantly influence how environmental changes translate into mobility decisions. Access to resources, social networks, and alternative livelihoods can either facilitate or constrain migration as an adaptation strategy. 

Current research emphasizes several key aspects of this relationship. Scientists are developing more sophisticated models to predict climate-induced migration patterns, incorporating both environmental and socioeconomic variables. Policy researchers examine governance frameworks for managing climate mobility, including questions of legal protection for climate migrants and responsibility-sharing among nations. Urban planning researchers focus on preparing cities for climate-induced migration, examining infrastructure needs, social integration, and sustainable development in rapidly growing urban areas.  

Looking forward, the relationship between climate, migration, and mobility will likely intensify. Rising temperatures and increasing frequency of extreme weather events may create new patterns of movement. This highlights the importance of developing comprehensive policy responses that address both immediate humanitarian needs and longer-term adaptation strategies. 

Research is welcomed from a range of vantage points including: 

• Anthropological perspectives 
• Sociological analyses 
• Political science and policy studies 
• Environmental humanities 
• Cultural studies 
• Economic assessments 
• Psychological research 
• Critical geopolitical approaches 

Scholarship is encouraged on pressing themes, including: 

• Social implications of climate-induced migration 
• Political discourse and rhetoric 
• Public understanding and acceptance of climate-related migration 
• Climate-induced displacement patterns in vulnerable regions 
• Psychological impacts of forced environmental migration 
• Economic resilience strategies for climate refugees 
• Transnational policy frameworks addressing climate migration 
• Indigenous communities' adaptive migration responses 
• Intersectional analyses of climate vulnerability and mobility 
• Urban transformation and climate-driven internal migration 
• Technology use in tracking and supporting climate migrants 
• Modelling migration patterns  
• Decision-making processes undertaken by climate migrants and consideration factors (e.g. economic, familial, etc.) 
• Public health implications of climate-induced migration (e.g., disease transmission patterns, mental health impacts, and healthcare system pressures in both origin and destination areas 
• Economic dimensions of climate migration (e.g. costs of displacement, labor market impacts, and investment required for adaptation) 
• Climate immobility